Selection of GPS Receiver for Survey Applications

The Global Positioning System (GPS) is finding a continuously increasing use for survey applications. The paper presents a quantitative rating model for the selection of a proper GPS receiver (among a number of available ones) for a given application. First, a descriptor matrix, including numerical values for different evaluation factors of each considered receiver, is defined. Each factor is assigned a proper weight according to the needs and capabilities of the user and to the conditions and requirements of the intended application. An overall quality rating value is then computed for each receiver as a weighted sum of its evaluation descriptor values. The receiver with maximum rating is considered the most appropriate one. The paper highlights the most important factors to be taken into consideration in assessing the overall performance of a GPS surveying receiver. An example is included to illustrate the application of the proposed selection model in the process of picking an optimum receiver for a third world company planning to utilize GPS technology in a large surveying project.